The Lesson I’m Learning As A Not-So-New Parent

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I’ve been a mom for almost 7 years and I’ve loved every sweet, scary, frustrating and loving moment of it.

As babies, the kids constantly kept me thinking…

Are they “learning” enough?

Are they social enough?

Are they eating enough?

Now I have a first grader and a pre-schooler and I’ve been thinking about how life has changed since the diaper days.

I’ve said it before but having kids is as much about the parental changes as it is kid changes. In fact, much of the change theygo through is harder on us than it is them.

I think about E’s first day of kindergarten last year. Not knowing anyone. Walking into a classroom for the first time without any idea of what to expect. It’s scary to think about your child going through that type of situation.

But picking him up, seeing that he had already made friends and that he was excited to go back the next day made me realize that he was gonna be ok.

It’s so easy for us to project our fears, and our stress on to them. What’s harder is letting them have their own experiences, untainted by our concerns. I guess that’s probably the first step in the bigger lesson of…

letting go

Letting them be independent. Letting them create their own experiences and in some situations, letting them make their own mistakes.

Do you know how hard that is for a Type A mom like me?

It’s tough. REALLY tough. But I’m determined to let them spread their wings and fly in the direction they want to fly. My job is to keep them safe, help them make good decisions and hope they fly straight.

This journey is a joint journey…not just theirs. And for every situation that comes…we all (mom, dad, kid)have to learn how to deal with it.

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Comments

Great post, Katie, even as a non parent, this really spoke to me. It has been a tougher than normal week work wise and your words of not projecting my own fears and stress on to others really helped me manage my own stress / fears. Thanks, friend!

I have two kids, my son turning seven next month and my daughter who is nine. I find that as our kids grow, there are new challenges and different things to consider. One of the main challenges we face as they grow older is how to let them become more independent. We are so used to doing everything for them but also realize it becomes counterproductive if they depend on us too much.Leo Tat recently posted…Eating Meat Good or Bad for You? Health Benefits, Myths & Why

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I am not a licensed medical professional. All views expressed on this website are based on my own personal research and experiences. Please consult your doctor with any medical issues, or before beginning a training program.